Skin Benefits of Cocoa

February 22, 2016

Most people love chocolate. It makes delicious, decadent desserts, but did you know it’s good for you as well? Of course, eating a chocolate bar loaded with sugar and other ingredients isn’t the healthiest choice you can make, but cocoa itself has many health benefits.

Cocoa is produced from the cacao tree. When the seeds are dried and fermented, they become cocoa beans, and cocoa butter and solid cocoa are extracted from them. Dark chocolate has more pure cocoa, ranging from just 100% chocolate, which is bitter, to a more proportioned 35% cocoa. Milk chocolate’s cocoa is diluted with things such as sugar, milk and cream, making it tastier, but less healthy. You can also eat cacao, which is just the cocoa bean dried and roasted and sometimes crushed up into nibs.

Health BenefitsCocoa has some very good health benefits. The main one is its antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants help the immune system, especially when it comes to free radicals. These are cells that damage other cells because they are unstable. Antioxidants help white blood cells stabilize these cells to prevent damage that can lead to aging effects and even cancer.

Cocoa contains a specific type of antioxidant called polyphenols, which are also found in red wine, olive oil, tea and other good­for­you foods. These are particularly known for having heart benefits by preventing the oxidation of bad cholesterol and stopping the arteries from hardening.

Benefits of Cocoa for the SkinBesides its internal benefits, which are many, cocoa is also fantastic for the skin. Its antioxidants can go to work externally as well. Free radical damage can result in the breakdown of collagen, leaving the skin saggy and wrinkled. Antioxidants can slow the aging of your skin and repair some as well.

Another benefit of cocoa is stimulating blood flow. The better the blood supply to the skin, the more regeneration and repair can happen. It is also believed that cocoa can help UV protection of the body. Sun damage is one of the number one causes of premature aging.

Cocoa is also full of caffeine. While it will give you a rush, when applied to the skin, caffeine can assist with reducing puffiness and tightening the skin. This can help with cellulite among other skin issues.

Our scrubs contain cocoa as well as coffee to give your skin the benefits of caffeine as well as the healing effects of antioxidants, providing you with a double punch of goodness!